2021 Ford Expedition vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum was a luxurious sight for a group of six weary travelers arriving at Los Angeles International Airport. After a week in a rented Dodge Grand Caravan, the plush and roomy Expedition Platinum, with its Magnetic gray paint, four-wheel drive, and a host of premium features, promised comfort. However, it quickly became apparent that the regular-length Expedition couldn't accommodate all their luggage, forcing one passenger to hold a suitcase on her lap for the 40-mile ride home. Despite this, the Expedition Platinum's intricate chrome grille, massive 22-inch wheels, and overall bold presence made it a good-looking vehicle. The extended-length MAX version would have solved the cargo issue, offering more space for passengers and luggage. Inside, the leather-lined cabin, though luxurious, had some hard plastic elements, reminding occupants of the Expedition's origins. For those seeking a more refined interior, the Lincoln Navigator, a close relative of the Expedition, offered a nicer alternative.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave represented a shift from Buick's traditionally conservative styling to a more modern and upscale design. The Enclave, especially in its top-of-the-line Avenir trim, featured a new grille, updated fascias, and unique 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled center console with push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim included standard climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and unique trim and seat stitching. The Enclave's Ebony perforated leather seats with Ebony accents provided an attractive and comfortable interior. While not quite reaching the luxury levels of a Cadillac XT6, the Enclave's materials and design were a cut above, offering a comfortable and visually appealing cabin.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque in most trims, with the Platinum trim getting a boost to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. The Expedition's towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, depending on the specification. The SUV's Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology made towing easier by allowing the driver to steer the trailer using a dashboard knob. The Expedition's acceleration was impressive, even with a full load, and the twin-turbo V6 emitted a pleasant engine note. However, the ride quality suffered due to the Platinum's 22-inch wheels, transmitting road shock into the cabin despite the adaptive damping suspension. The Expedition's four-wheel independent suspension kept it stable on the road. The FX4 Off-Road Package, available on XLT and Limited models, added off-road capabilities, but our Platinum test vehicle did not have this option. The Expedition averaged 17.1 mpg during our evaluation, with an EPA rating of 19 mpg in combined driving.

The 2022 Buick Enclave kept it simple with a 3.6-liter V6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The Enclave came standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The SUV's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave's ride quality was exceptional, thanks to the Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. The Enclave handled well on various terrains, providing a smooth and quiet ride, enhanced by Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. The powertrain's responsiveness was surprising, offering good acceleration despite the vehicle's weight. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed flawlessly, and the engine emitted pleasant sounds at wide-open throttle. While not designed for off-road use, the Enclave's AWD and 7.5 inches of ground clearance made it capable of handling light off-road trails or wintry conditions.

The 2021 Ford Expedition's regular-length model struggled to transport more than five people and their luggage simultaneously. The extended-length Expedition MAX offered more cargo space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 121.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Expedition's interior was comfortable, with large, wide seats for all passengers, including adults in the third row. The front seats offered a massage function, adding to the comfort. The independent rear suspension ensured a smooth ride for all occupants. Storage for small items was plentiful, but the high cargo floor liftover height could be a challenge when loading heavy items.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility thanks to its large windshield and windows. The Enclave's cabin was spacious, offering ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room for passengers in all three rows. The third row was comfortable even for six-footers, and the standard second-row captain's chairs made access to the third row easy. The restyled center console featured push-button transmission gears, which, while convenient, raised concerns about potential spills affecting the electronic components. The Enclave offered generous cargo space, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. Our test vehicle's power-folding third-row seats made accessing the cargo space even easier.

The 2021 Ford Expedition's Sync 3 infotainment system, though user-friendly, was starting to show its age with an 8-inch touchscreen display that looked small in the center of the dashboard. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. Amazon Alexa compatibility and enhanced voice recognition were also part of Sync 3. The test vehicle featured a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging but lacked the available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came standard with a 4.2-inch driver information center, with Premium and Avenir trims getting a larger 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with two smartphones active simultaneously, and included a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system was easy to use, though some graphics appeared dated. The Premium and Avenir trims' 10-speaker Bose audio system was superior to the standard six-speaker system but could use more power. The Enclave also included a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports, with two in each row. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, hitch guidance with hitch view, a digital rear camera mirror, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 Ford Expedition had a safety advantage due to its weight, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not crash-tested it. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Expedition a five-star overall crash-test rating, though the rear-wheel-drive model received a three-star rollover-resistance rating, while the four-wheel-drive model earned four stars. The Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, a semi-autonomous parking assistance system, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package becoming standard on all trims. This package included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-change alert with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance with lane-departure warning, rear park assist, following-distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. Other standard safety features included a Safety Alert driver's seat, rear-seat reminder system, and HD reversing camera. Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera, head-up display, and rear pedestrian alert. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Enclave, but it received four out of five stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Enclave "Good" ratings in all but one crash test, where it received an "Acceptable" score.